A 50 ft by 50 ft lawn area produces enough oxygen to support a family of how many for one year?

A 50 ft by 50 ft lawn area produces enough oxygen to support a family of how many for one year?

• A. 2
• B. 4
• C. 6
• D. 8

Answer: (B)

Oxygen is produced by photosynthesis, which depends on how much leaf surface is actively photosynthesizing and how much daylight that area receives. A 50-by-50-foot lawn has about 2,500 square feet of leaf area, roughly 232 square meters of surface actively producing oxygen. Under typical daylight and grass productivity, that amount of leaf area can supply enough oxygen for about four people for a year. This is a rough estimate and can vary with factors like sunshine hours, grass type, mowing height, and climate. If the area were smaller or less productive, fewer people would be supported; if larger or more productive, more could be supported.